Elastic wheel.



M. SOHNABELQ ELASTIC WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.24, 1908.

93 ,901, Patentd Nov. 2, 1909.

wrrrqzssrzs'z INVENTOR MARTIN SCHNABEL HIS ATTORNEY ms Nonhls P5196 m. pnnrmu-mou wnsnmawm n. c

MARTIN SCHNABEL, OF NEWCASTLE CALIFORNIA.

ELASTIC WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed December 24, 1908. Serial No. 469,111.

to devise a wheel having sufficient elasticityto permit its being substituted in place of the ordinary pneumatic tired wheel.

A further purpose is to provide a wheel of this class that will be simple in construction, and in which the several parts are readily accessible so that in case of injury or breakage of any of the elements it will only be necessary to remove a portion of the wheel structure to repair the defect.

My invention relates to the parts and the construction and combination of parts, or their equivalents, as set forth in the accompanying specification and drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a port-ion of a wheel. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the spoke members, partially in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through a portion of the wheel.

It 1s desirable to construct a wheel' 2,=

which will have the same or approximately the same cushion-like or resilient effect that.

the ordinary pneumatic tire affords, and in the construction of my invention as embodied in the accompanying drawings, I provide a central hub member 3 having a plurality of facets 4 upon its periphery, preferably disposed at right angles to the radii and the spokes rigidly inserted in the hub member 3, are preferably polygonal in cross-section and project outwardly from the hub, being secured at their outer ends in a felly 6.

Approximate to the hub 3, and surrounding the spoke 5, is a stiff coiled spring 7 outwardly abuttin against the inner ends of boxes 10 formed upon the inner sides of segments 8; the central portions'of which are perforated, and slidably mounted upon the spokes 5. Preferably the segments 8 are made in two similar parts, which may be bolted together as at 9- so as to snugly though slidably inclose the s okes The boxes 10 are provide with antifriction rollers 11 for reducing the frictional These spokes are resistance as the segments reciprocate along the spokes; and the outer end of the box is prevented from direct contact with the 'felly e by means of any suitable resilient member, such for instance as shown by the rubber pad 12. Thus, it will be seen that the spring 7 will thrust the box'outwardly againstthe cushion 12, which in turn is supported by the felly 6.

As seen in Fig. 3, the segments 8 are extended outwardly past the felly 6, and have removably secured at their outer ends treadplates or shoes 13, and between these shoes I 13 and the metallic band ltwhich surrounds the folly 6, are placed a series of coiled springs 15, and which springs afford the resiliency required of the wheel; each of the segments sliding radially upon their respective spokes as the wheel revolves. In order to reduce the friction of the sides 8 of the segments against the band 14, suitable antifriction rollers 16 may be inserted at intervals around the edge of the rim and adapted to support the segments 8 against transverse motion. For the purpose of insuring a lim: ited amount of outward motion of the several segments 8, due to the action of the springs 7, and'to'maintain the shoes 13 in an approximately true circle, the inner sides of the segments 8 are provided with small projections 17 which engage with the inner surface of the band 14'. Vhen desirable the shoes 13 of several of the segments 8 may be it is obvious that some of these shoes, or the segments, may be quickly removed, and others having roughened surfaces readily placed in the wheel, and it is then in perfect condition for use upon wet and slippery streets.

Obviously this wheel offers a simple, cheap and reliable structure, possessing the desired resiliency, and obviates the use of soft, easily injured tires, and is readily adaptable to meet the various requirements of road surfaces.

Having thus described my invention, what I' claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a vehicle wheel, the combinationof a hub-portion, a series of spokes radiating therefrom, a plurality of independent segments having boxes upon their inner sides adapted to slidably embrace the spokes,

- tween the hub portion and the felly and a said segments being extended outwardly ashthe felly'and having tread plates upon t e1r v outer ends, and springs between the tread plates and the felly.

2. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a hub portion, s okes radiating therefrom, a felly in which t e outer ends of said spokes are secured, segments reciprocable on said spokes, said segments being made in two similar parts secured together, the inner sides of. the segments bein formed with inwardly projecting, boxes a apted to receive the spokes, said segments being extended outwardly beyond the felly, a removable tread plate secured to the outerendsofthe'se gments, and a spring between the tread-plate and the felly.

3. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a hub-portion, spokes radiating therefrom, a felly in which the outer ends of said spokes are secured, the segments reciprocable on said spokes, said segments being made in two similar parts secured together, the inner sides of the segments being formed with inwardly projecting boxes adapted to ,receive the spokes, said segments being extended outwardly beyond the telly, a removable tread-plate secured to the outer ends "of the segments, a spring between the tread-plate and. the telly, and resilient members disposed around the spokes and adapted to support said segments between the telly and said hub portion.

4. Ina vehicle wheel, the combination of a hub portion, a felly, spokes extending bepair of segments for each spoke, said seg- ;a hub portion, .tweenthe hub portion and the felly a pair than the length ments being) formed of two similar arts, adapted to e secured together, each 0? said parts havin the inner si es, said boxes adapted to receive the spokes and said boxes being of less length than the length of said spokes, resilient supports at the opposite ends of the boxes and disposed around said spokes, said segments being extended beyond said felly, a removable tread-plate connecting the outer ends of each pair of segments, and a resilient support between the telly and the inner surface of the tread-plate.

5. In a vehicle wheel,

a felly, spokes extending beinwardly projecting boxes upon he combination of p of segments for each spoke, said segments being formed of two similar parts, adapted to be secured together, each of said parts having inwardly projecting boxes upon the,

inner sides, said boxes .ada ted to receive the spokes and said boxes belng of less length I of said s okes, resilient supposts at the op osite en s of the boxes and disposed aroun said spokes, said segments being extended beyond said felly, a removable tread-plate connecting the outer ends of each pair of segments, and a resilient support between the felly and the inner surface 7 v of the tread-plate, said boxes' having antifriction rollersto contact with the spokes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two subscribing wit- MARTIN SCHNABEL.

Witnesses CHRIS. P. J oHNsoN, T. W. BLAIR. 

